notwithstanding all the advantages of industry, one would never wish it to be pushed to that extreme which would exhaust the strength of the laboring classes, and bring on disease and infirmity. The benefits resulting from industry are an increase of the comforts and con- . veniences of life; but it would be paying too dear for these to purchase them by a sickly and premature old age.

In order to be of permanent service to the laboring classes we must not rest satisfied with encouraging industry; but we should endeavor by instruction to awaken their minds to a sense of remote consequences, as well as of immediate good, so that when they have succeeded in rendering their condition more comfortable, they may not rashly and inconsiderately increase their numbers beyond the means of subsistence.

Caroline. But if population be constantly kept within the limits of subsistence, would it not always remain stationary?

Mrs B. Certainly not; if the people are industrious capital will increase; and the increase of population will follow of course, and with advantage.

Caroline. I now see evidently, that population should never be encouraged but where there is great plenty of subsistence and employment.

Mrs B. And then it requires no encouragement. If men so often marry without having made any provision for a family, there is no danger of their not marrying when a subsistence is easily obtained; and their children will be healthy and long lived in proportion as they are well fed, clothed, and taken care of.

371. What are the benefits resulting from industry?-372. How may we render ourselves permanently useful to the laboring classes of the community, in exciting them to habits of industry?- -373. Would not population remain stationary if kept within the limits of subsistence?- -374. What will always be a sufficienducement in society for persons to marry?

CONVERSATION X.

ON THE CONDITION OF THE POOR.

Of the cultivation of commons and waste lands.---Of Emigration.-Education of the lower classes.-Benefit clubs.-Savings Banks.-Parochial reliefAlms and private charities.-Rewards.

CAROLINE.

In our last conversation, Mr. B., you pointed out the evils arising from an excess of population; they have left a very melancholy impression on my mind. I have been reflecting ever since whether there might be any means of averting them, and of raising subsistence to the level of population, rather than suffering population to sink to the level of subsistence. Though we have not the same resource in land as America; yet we have large tracts of waste land, which by being brought into cultivation would produce an additional stock of subsist

ence.

Mrs B. You forget that industry is limited by the extent of capital, and that no more laborers can be employed than we have the means of maintaining; they work for their daily bread, and without obtaining it, they neither could nor would work. All the laborers which the capital of the country can maintain being disposed of, the only question is, whether it be better to employ them on land already in a state of cultivation, or in breaking up and bringing into culture new lands; and this point may safely be trusted to the decision of the landed proprietors, as it is no less their interest than that

375. What inquiry does Caroline make in the beginning of the tenth conversation? -376. What does Mrs B. in reply say Caroline has forgotten?- -377. What does Mrs B. consider the only question, admitted in relation to the melioration of the condition of the poor in England!

of the laboring classes that the greatest possible quantity of produce should be raised. To a certain extent it has been found more advantageous to lay out capital in improving the culture of old land, rather than to employ it in bringing new land into tillage; because the soil of the waste land is extremely poor and ungrateful, and requires a great deal to be laid out on it before it brings in a return But there is often capital sufficient for both these purposes, and of late years we have seen not only prodigious improvements in the processes of agriculture throughout the country, but a great number of commons inclosed and cultivated.

Caroline. I fear you will think me inconsistent, but I cannot help regretting the enclosure of commons; they are the only resource of the cottagers for the maintenance of a few lean cattle. Let me once more quote my favorite Goldsmith:

"Where then, ah where shall poverty reside,
To 'scape the pressure of contagious pride?
If to some common's fenceless limits stray'd,
He drives his flock to pick the scanty blade,
Those fenceless fields the sons of wealth deride,
And ev'n the bare worn common is deny'd."

Mrs B. You should recollect that we do not admit poets to be very good authority in political economy. If instead of feeding a few lean cattle, a common can, by being inclosed, fatten a much greater number of fine catttle; you must allow that the quantity of subsistence will be increased, and the poor, though in a less direct manner, will fare the better for it. Laborers are required to inclose and cultivate those commons, the neighboring cottagers are employed for that purpose, and this additional demand for labor turns to their immediate ad

378. What changes in agriculture does she say have recently taken place?- -379. What objection does Caroline make to the enclosure of commons?. -380. How does Mrs B. in reply say the inclosure of commons is beneficial to the poor?

vantage. They not only receive an idemnity for their loss of right of common, but they find purchasers for the cattle they can no longer maintain in the proprietors of the new inclosures.

When Finchley Common was enclosed, it was divided amongst the inhabitans of that parish; and the cottagers and little shopkeepers sold the small slips of land which fell to their share to men of greater property, who thus became possessed of a sufficient quantity to make it answer to them to inclose and cultivate it; and the poorer classes were amply remunerated for their loss of comonage by the sale of their respective lots.

Caroline. But if we have it not in our power to provide for a redundant population by the cultivation of our waste lands, what objection is there to sending those who cannot find employment at home, to seek a maintenance in countries where it is more easily obtained, where there is a greater demand for labor? Or why should they not found new colonies in the yet unsettled parts of America?

Mrs B. Emigration is undoubtedly a resource for ! an overstocked population; but one that is adopted in general with great reluctance by individuals; and is commonly discouraged by governments, from an apprehension of its diminishing the strength of the country.

Caroline. It might be wrong to encourage emigration to a very great extent; I meant only to provide abroad for those whom we cannot maintain at home.

Mrs B. Under an equitable government there is little danger of emigration ever exceeding that point. The attachment to our native land is naturally so strong, and there are so many ties of kindred and association

381. What account is given of Finchley Common in relation to this subject?-382. What other method does Caroline propose to improve the condition of the poor?--383. What does Mrs B. say of enigrations?-384. Why are governments opposed to them? -385. What is there to prevent emigrations so great as to be hurtful?

to break through before we can quit it, that no slight motive will induce a man to expatriate himself. An author deeply versed in the knowledge of the human mind says, "La seule bonne loi contre les emigrations, est celle que la nature a grave dans nos cœurs.' On this subject I am very willing to quote the Deserted Village :

99

"Good heaven! what sorrows gloom'd that parting day,
That call'd them from their native walks away."

Besides, the difficulties with which a colony of emigrants have to struggle before they can effect a settlement; and the hardships they must undergo, until they have raised food for their subsistence, are so discouraging, that no motive ess strong than that of necessity is likely to induce them to settle in an uncultivated land.

Some capital too is required for this as well as for all undertakings; the colonists must be provided with implements of husbandry and of art; and supplied with food and clothing until they shall have succeeded in producing such necessaries for themselves.

Were emigration therefore allowed, instead of being checked, scarcely any would abandon their country but those who could not find a maintenance in it. But should emigration ever become so great as to leave the means of subsistence easy and plentiful to those who remain, it would naturally cease, and the facility of rearing children, and maintaining families, would soon fill up the vacancy in population.

There are some emigrations which are extremely detrimental to the wealth and prosperity of a country; these however was not occasioned by poverty, but result

386. What, besides attachment to one's native country, is likely to check emigrations?- -387. With what must emigrants be provided?--388. Who are the persons generally that would emigrate to a foreign country?- -389. How might the evil be remedied if an emigration too great should take place?-390. What emigrations are particularly detrimental to wealth and national prosperity?